From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print.
John Hastings was born in Ireland, May 31, He was brought to the United States when he was about 9 months old. This voyage took three months in which they experienced and endured high winds and anguish. On this trip John nearly fell off the boat; and John said to his children at a later time, “Now wouldn’t that have been a tragedy, none of us would have been here”.
His brother Michael and sister Molly were born in Pennsylvania, and about 1870 they came to Texas. {The 1870 Dallas, Texas Census has all three children living with Peter Hastings born Ireland, age 45, and Mary Hastings born Tennessee, age 51. It is believed this Mary is a step mother.)
At a summer picnic, he met Rachael Deliah Garner, born July 15, 1855, and they were married March 3, 1872. Rachael was born in the area where Ledbetter and Duncanville Rd. now intersect. John and Rachael bought and settled on a 172 acre farm which they purchased for seventy-five cents an acre. The location is what is now most of the Winona Gardens area of Duncanville north of West Ridge Road, near Duncanville High School, Camp Wisdom, Clark Road and Cedar Ridge. John Hastings operated a store in 1912-1913 on Main and Davis Streets, Duncanville, where the Suburban newspaper office is located. John and Rachael moved from their farm to their second home at 310 Hastings Street, Duncanville, in the late 1800’s, now called the Nance Home and owned by Rachael’s niece, Louise Nance.
John and Rachael were both charter members of the First Methodist Church in Duncanville.
Seven children were born to them: 1) William M. born March 19, 1873, died March 30, 2) Frederick A. Lee born May 17, 1875, died March 8, 1967. 3) Jesse H. born February 22, 1877, died February 25, 1887. 4) Edmond Moses born December 12, 1878, died February 28, 1966. 5) Ada Pearl born July 2, 1882, died June 28, 1884. 6) Lelia Maude born April 16, 1885, died September 4, 1910, married Mr. Neilon. 7) Lula Mae born March 5, 1895, married Mr. Riddle. We are not only grateful but have great pride in the heritage they laid before us. John Hastings died December 4, 1929, and Rachael died January 14, 1938.
By Fred Harrington, Duncanville
